Time to go home!

Hospital-Day 2

Here is a picture and video of Kia Ora on her second day.

Final Day at the Hospital

On Friday morning it was finally time to go home. The doctors and nurses took so long to do all the paper work that Jon fell asleep. Once it was all said and done we were all glad to be home.

Dr. Young with Kia Ora

Jon napping on my hospital bed

My feet were so swollen that I could not fit into my flip flops.
Look how fat they are!

Kiki all ready to go home

Kia Ora in her homecoming outfit!

40 weeks and 59 lbs later Kia Ora Rhea Ward is Born!

After much wait and anticipation Kia Ora is finally here. She was scheduled to be induced on her actual due date, July 28th, 2010. I had tried so hard the past 3 weeks to get her to come early by walking a lot, push-ups, teaching hip-hop, curb walking, cleaning house/car/car/house...you name it. Nothing!

Finally Wednesday morning around 1 am I started having mild contractions. I did not think much of it. Around 4 am my contractions were getting stronger and were closer together. Around 5:15 they were about every 5 to 7 minutes apart. I got up and started getting ready since we had to be at the hospital at 6:30 am for the induction. By the time I got admitted into the hospital was brought into my room my water broke on it's own, and I was dilated to 9cm. The nurse rushed to call my doctor who was already on his way on his bicycle may I add. It was pretty funny to watch him walk into my room with his cyclist outfit on.
Kia Ora was born at 8:46 am. She was 7 lbs 12 oz, and 20" long. She is a little cutie. I must admit it was my easiest labor yet. I felt great before and after. I even felt pretty good during the delivery (I just felt really tired).

Our new and improved little family

Kiki with very happy mommy!

Daddy's little angel!

Kia Ora with her proud big brothers!

Kiki with Mamie

Diaper changing time!

Wow! I had no idea that everyone would be lining up to change Kiki's diaper. I hope it lasts! Julien helped change her first diaper. He insisted in wearing gloves though. It was too cute.

Jon too took his turn changing Kia Ora's diaper.

Our little princess!

Jon took a couple of videos of her. Enjoy!

For more pictures of Kia Ora, check out Jon's photobucket @
http://s287.photobucket.com/albums/ll150/jward22/Kia%20Ora/

Happy Birthday Mami!

Today was my mom's birthday! I wanted to do something special for my mom since my dad was in France. Jon and I stopped by the French bakery and picked up some Patiseries. I really wanted to get a Religieuse for my mom since it is her favorite, but they did not have any. I had to settle for what ever they had. I also made some delicious strawberry, pineapple, kiwi, orange juice with my juicer.

I hope my mom knows how much I love and appreciate her. She is a remarkable person, with amazing qualities. I hope I can become as selfless, caring, loving, and charitable as her one day. She is a wonderful mother, who I look up too and admire. I am so grateful to be her daughter, and to have her in my life and the life of my family. She is a great example to me and my little family.

Foam Party!

Lehi city's fire department threw a foam party today. They were soaking everyone with foam and water. It looked like so much fun. The kids were hesitant in going in at first, but when Jon decided to go in, they quickly followed suit.

Here are a couple of shots.

Logan is 7 years old!

Logan is now a big 7 year old! I can't believe how fast the years go by. He is a very cute, smart, charming kid. We are so happy to have him in our family, and we love him so so much.

For his 7th birthday, Jon and I wanted to do something special for his birthday; and since he has been interested in and playing a lot of spy games, we decided to throw him a spy birthday party.

Jon made really cool spy vs. spy invitations.

He also spent a good part of the day decorating Logan's spy vs. spy birthday cake.

Here is the picture he was copying from, along with the final product. I think it turn out fantastic. Logan was pretty impressed too!


















As we waited for all of Logan's friends to arrive, we made special agents name tags with fingerprints. Then we played a who or what am I game where the kids had to ask questions and try to guess the picture which was scotched to their forehead.


We then started our Spy Training Academy which consisted of first participating in an investigation to try and retrieve special artifacts (which were the party favors). The kids had fun following clues. Jon hid the first clue high up on the basketball board. Julien was brave enough to climb up and get it.


After the treasure hunt, the kids had to go through an obstacle course. They really enjoyed doing that. And I think Jon enjoyed throwing water bombs at them as they were running through the course.

Logan going through the obstacle course.

Julien racing.

After the course we ate the cake. It was a pretty good cake. I made a chocolate mouse to layer the cakes. That was my favorite part of the cake.

Logan with his cake, blowing out his candles.

Logan and his friends.

At last Logan finally got to open his presents. He had been so patient all day. He was really spoiled, by his friends and family.

As part of his spy themed party, Jon and I thought it would be fun to get him his very own spy gear along with cool spy bag. We got a really good deal on the bag at Uncle Sam's army supply. His spy gear included binoculars, a flash light, a note pad and pen, and a spy ear piece. He loved it.

But the highlight of his presents was definitely his Ninja Zhu Zhu Pet. He had been asking us for one for a long time now. My parents got him just the one he wanted (Thanks!) He plays with it all the time, and even sleeps with it. It is the new entertainment around the neighborhood.

Logan showing off his Ninja Zhu Zhu Pet named Thorm along with his armor.

Julien and Logan playing with Thorm.

I think Logan's birthday was a definite success. He had a lot of fun! Now Julien is patiently awaiting his turn.

Julien's Daddy Date!

Deer Creek Reservoir

Today we decided to take the kids to the lake. Logan was the first one in the water, No one else seem to want to go because the water was "too cold."
Not even 30 minutes after us getting all settled on the shore, it started raining. I was so mad that my plans were getting ruined. As expected, the rain did not last more than 10 minutes, after which the heat kicked in and we were able to enjoy our outing as expected.

Logan and Julien

Alex and Julien


The girls trying to find refuge from the rain.

More 4th of July Celebration!

Today there was a hot air balloon launch starting at 6:30 am. We thought it would be fun for the kids to see the balloons up close. They seemed to enjoy it, but I think they would have not minded staying in bed a little longer.

After the balloon launch, we hurried home to get ready for the parade. We got there early enough to see the kids karate studio do a little demonstration. Logan got to get his picture taken with some of the star war characters while Julien and I were finding seats.

4th of July Celebration!

Yesterday we went to the Freedom Festival in Provo to celebrate the 4th of July. They had a lot of fun shows and activities for children to do for free. They had so many activities that we did not even get a chance to do it all. And even then our day felt packed. First we saw a reptile show. The kids got to go up and pet some of the animals after the show. They really enjoyed it.















Next we took them to do marble art. There they rolled a marble with paint on it on a piece of paper. They repeated the process until their picture was complete.















Jon found the Boy Scout of America station where Julien, Logan, and Alex did some of their favorite activities. First they got to saw a log. Look how cute they are hard at work!

Jon and Logan in action.

Julien and Alex sawed their own log also.

Julien and Alex sawing away.

The boys also got to stamp their wood circles with scouting symbols.

One of the kids favorite things to do was rope making. It looked like so much fun that my mom and I made one also. The boys love their new rope. As a matter of fact they are outside right now playing cowboys with them, lassoing anything they can find.















Then, Jon took the boys to a station where they got to write letters and draw pictures for soldiers while the girls went and got delicious treats to eat for everyone.


Julien, Logan, and Alex also got to play in bounce houses, and blow up obstacle courses. The funny thing is that all those free activities were by the Provo Tabernacle, but right across the street, there was other activities which cost money. The bounce houses across the street were $3.00 per person for just a few minutes, the face painting was $4.00. My question is who would ever pay that much money for those activities, and second, why would you rather pay for something that is free just a few feet away?


After much fun at the Freedom Festival, we headed home where we ate cheeseburgers. Then watched a movie while waiting for the fireworks to start. We then made our way to the MTC field where we watched the fireworks, while eating cotton candy.

The boys had a little too much fun with the cotton candy.

On our way home from the fireworks the boys popped snappers.

Overall I'd say that it was a very fun, successful day!